new energy applications: challenges and opportunities · decentralised micro ... voller energy...

© Voller Energy Group PLC 2007 1www.voller.com

Making fuel cell systems work

New energy applications: challenges and opportunities

Ralph OlingschlaegerMarketing Manager

Voller Energy Group PLC

Eco-Innovation Workshop, NPL24th September 2007



• Climate change presents very serious global risks

– the scientific evidence is now overwhelming and it demands an urgent global response

• A portfolio of technologies will be required to stabilise emissions

– new technologies already exist but are currently uncompetitive compared to fossil fuel alternatives

• By 2050 a new market worth over $500+ billion per year will be created

– driven by the commercial needs for low-carbon, high efficiency goods and services

* Source : Stern Review : The Economics of Climate Change (HM Treasury 30 Oct 2006)

The new political reality : our current carbon based economy is unsustainable

$500bn+marketby 2050



Future ‘zero’carbon economy• Zero emissions• 100% efficiency

Low-carbon energy solution are needed to cover the technology gap

Carbon dioxideCarbon monoxideSulphur dioxide

Nitrous oxideMethaneAcid rain

Technology Gap

Today’s ‘high’carbon economy• High emissions• Low efficiency



Low Carbon Energy Technologies already exist but…..

Decentralised Micro generation (CHP –combined heat and power)

WindSolar Biomass CHPHydrogen Fuel Cell CHP

• Development of local ‘heating’network to capture benefits of CHP heating needed

• Development of hydrogen fuel infrastructure

Portable power generation WindSolar Hydrogen Fuel Cell CHP

• Reliability of supply from renewables

• Development of hydrogen fuel infrastructure

Automotive ElectricHybridHydrogen Fuel Cell • Development of hydrogen

fuel infrastructure

Centralised / Grid Power

Technical solutions Issues

• Continued problem of grid losses

• Grid balance and stability• Cannot benefit from Heat

output

Wave/TidalGeo-thermalBiomass

WindSolar arraysHydro-electricNuclear



How can Fuel Cells contribute to the low-carbon economy ?

Carbon dioxideCarbon monoxideSulphur dioxide

Nitrous oxideMethaneAcid rain

Technology Gap

LPG and fuel cell systems can be combined to provide a bridging

technology



Hydrogen Fuel Cells : how they work

• Hydrogen and oxygen are fed into the fuel cell• Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the air over special membrane (PEM

fuel cell)• This electrochemical process produces electricity, heat and water

Fuel Cell

HeatWater

Electricity

Hydrogen

Oxy

gen

Bottled Hydrogen



The “hydrogen economy” may be an answer but significant challenges remain

• Hydrogen has a lower fuel density than fossil fuels, this creates practical usage and storage problems

• Hydrogen takes 3,000x more space than gasoline containing an equivalent amount of energy at room temperature

• Cost and logistics of building an infrastructure remain an issue

100 miles

89 miles

57 miles

55 miles

20 miles

Diesel

Gasoline

LPG

Ethanol

Liquid hydrogen (-250c storage)

Compressed hydrogen (@700 bar)

For the same volume of fuel a cars range would be:

Compressed hydrogen (@200 bar)

12 miles

4 miles

California Fuel Cell Partnership currently has a network of 25 hydrogen refilling stations -compared with an existing network of 10,000 gasoline stations

79 milesBio Diesel

40 milesMethanol



Voller Energy Portable Fuel Cell Generator

Fuel Cell

Water

ElectricityBottled

Hydrogen

Heat

Fuel Reformer technology extracts hydrogen from Butane, Propane, LPGPropane, butane or

LPG is hydrocarbon i.e. contains hydrogen



Drivers for adoptionConventional Generator v Fuel Cell Generator

• Noisy• High emissions, and smells• Vibration• High maintenance• Mature technology• 10 -20% electrical efficiency• Low purchase cost – high

maintenance and through life costs

• Quiet• Low emissions• Low vibration• Low maintenance• New technology• 25-60% efficient (electrical &

heat) • Provides Combined Heat &

Power • Lower through-life

costs – despite higher initial cost



Voller Emerald Fuel Cell Generator

•Portable fuel cell generator using widely available propane or LPG•12V/24V Automatic battery charger •800W electrical output •1000w thermal output•Control panel (option to remotely position)

•On/Off button, LED lights showing system status•Clear illuminated LCD display with rolling status indicator

•Emergency stop button•Ethernet connection for monitoring and diagnostics•Hot water and space heating capability•Quiet, vibration free operation•Robust construction and outer casing with removable lifting eyelets •Simple installation using industry standard connections•Dimensions W80cm H58cm D45cm•Weight 120kg



Energy Management

Information

Voller Emerald energy hub

Solar Panel

Wind Generator

Prop Generator

- Grid/ shore power (Electric)

- Grid (Nat Gas)

- Stored Fuel (LPG/Diesel)

Energy Sources

Water heating

Room heating

Power

Lighting

Energy Storage

/ Destinations

Thermal Storage (Hot water tank)

Electrical Storage (Battery)

Feed-in-tariffs

Fuel Cell Generator



Core ProductLCD control panel – option to position

on appliance or remotely via ethernet connector and cable

Voller Emerald user interface optionsRemote access option – Marine

sector• Link into on-board navigation

equipment using marine industry standard NMEA protocol

• Enhanced presentation level

Remote access option – other sectors

• Link into remotely situated PC’s, PDA’s and Mobile Devices using Web Browser

• Enhanced presentation level

Enhanced Product (Optional Extra)

External processor devise for running enhanced GUI software and web browser

http://www.luckygwet.com/1619/103703.html



Voller Emerald control panel

• Simple user interface on product

• Single button operation• LED system status lights• LCD screen display with

rolling system status information

• Option for remote location via cable



Voller Emerald enhanced user interface

• Enhanced user interface and energy management via external Voller Emerald processor device (optional)

• Compatible with web browser and NMEA marine protocol




• Localised system set up/ configuration using ‘drag-and-drop’ menu•Language options•Energy sources•Energy destinations

Voller Emerald Energy Hub (energy management display)




Voller Emerald Energy Hub (energy management display)

• Device monitors and displays all system energy sources and energy destinations

• Calculates and displays Carbon footprint




Portable Fuel Cell Applications

Leisure Marine Leisure Marine

Road Construction Telecomms UPS Material Handling

Remote Houses Promotional Trailers

Recreational Vehicles

Construction Industry



Construction Industry Cabins

Value added proposition• Low maintenance • Improved air quality and less noise pollution• Improved energy efficiency • Supports onboard hot water and space heating needs• Safe and environmentally friendly – avoids costly diesel spillage• Combines with other renewable energy sources to provide intelligent power management

Definition and key facts• Construction site cabin for use as welfare cabins or

offices• Often leased or hired for duration of build• Typically use 5.5 – 12 kW petrol or diesel genset to

power lighting, water and space heating, cooking • Typical genset usage patterns lead to low fuel

efficiency levels and frequent maintenance needs• LPG is sometimes used for cooking and space

heating• Diesel generators are disliked for environmental

reasons (spillage) and fire risk. • High through life costs due to maintenance and

reliability issues



Remote Power & Heating

Value added proposition• Low maintenance • Improved air quality and less noise pollution• Improved energy efficiency • Safe and environmentally friendly• Un-interupted power supply • Combines with other renewable energy sources to provide intelligent power management

Definition and key facts • Required to meet remote off grid (gas and/or

mains electric) electrical power needs• LPG widely used for cooking and heating • Customers are looking for fuel independence• Electricity produced typically using 4 – 10 kW

petrol or diesel genset for lighting • Petrol / diesel generators are disliked for

environmental reasons (spillage) and fire risk.• High in service costs due to maintenance and

reliability issues

new energy applications: challenges and opportunities · decentralised micro ... voller energy...

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